Sean Crawford

Content Director/ Illinois Edition

Sean Crawford

mattpenning.com 2009WUIS/Illinois Issues

217-206-6408

Sean has been News Director for WUIS since the fall of 2009. He replaced the only other person to hold that title in the station's history, Rich Bradley. Prior to taking over the News Department, Sean worked as Statehouse Bureau Chief for WUIS and other Illinois Public Radio stations. He spent more than a dozen years on the capitol beat.

Sean began his broadcasting career at his hometown station in Herrin, Illinois while still in high school. It was there he learned to cover local government, courts and anything else that made the news. He spent time in the Joliet area as News Director and Operations Manager for a radio station and worked for a chain of weekly newspapers for two years. Along with news coverage, he reported heavily on sports and did on-air play by play.

Sean holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Politics

9:31 pm

Wed October 29, 2014

Ebola has not just dominated the news recently, it has become a point of discussion in campaigns. It came up in last night's U-S Senate debate, held as part of the public t-v program "Chicago Tonight."

U-S Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, says he favors close monitoring of passengers and quarantining those at high risk of exposure.

But he disagreed with his Republican challenger Jim Oberweis, a state Senator, on the need for a travel ban from certain countries.

Regional

7:38 pm

Tue October 28, 2014

"Young Philanthropists is a giving circle at the Community Foundation for people who want to get involved in philanthropy at kind of an early level," she said. "The more people who get together, the bigger impact we can have."

Every member gives $125 and the money is pooled and grants are awarded. The next round will be going out soon. A deadline of Nov. 3 is coming fast for those who work with children and want to apply.

Regional

4:51 am

Tue October 28, 2014

What chemicals wind up in building materials? And do they impact your health?

Those are questions Jeffrey Saad has been asking. He's deciphering the "recipes" that are used in construction. The Chicago based architect with Perkins+Will says of the more than 82,000 chemicals registered in the U.S., only about 200 have been analyzed for their potential threats. And only 5 are banned.

Politics

2:27 pm

Fri October 24, 2014

The runner up in the 2011 Springfield mayor's contest issued a statement today saying she won't run for the office next year.

Sheila Stocks-Smith indicated it's not the right time for her to make a bid. Stocks-Smith finished second to Mayor Mike Houston in the last election.

Her statement:

"After carefully thought, I have decided that this is not the right time for me to run for Mayor. Instead, I will continue to serve my community and influence positive change in Springfield through my social policy and program work and community activism.”

Illinois' declining manufacturing sector led to one candidate for congress calling for repeal of a controversial free trade deal. The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, has been praised by those who see it as key to opening up new export markets. But others say it has led to more outsourcing of jobs to other countries.

Democrat Ann Callis of Edwardsville, who is seeking the 13th Congressional District seat, commented in a Tuesday debate in Springfield that she would support repealing NAFTA.

Education Desk

3:56 pm

Thu October 16, 2014

Decatur Public Schools issued a statement today saying a staff member at MacArthur High, who traveled to Africa, has been cleared by a doctor. The announcement came after concerns from parents over potential exposure to Ebola.

The district says the individual was in South Africa, outside of the region where Ebola has been concentrated.

The statement released says the staff member was deemed not to be at risk and after seeing their personal physician, was cleared to return to work.

Sports

6:57 am

Thu October 16, 2014

Brad Schaive wants to make a few things clear about full contact armored fighting. It's a sport and it's dangerous.

Schaive would know. He's a competitor. He's traveled overseas to go up against some of the best in the world. But now, the best are coming here.

Battle of the Nations International Tournament of Chivalry will bring participants from the U.S. and five other countries to Springfield. The event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Livestock Center is from 12-3 Saturday.

Statehouse

3:57 pm

Sun October 12, 2014

The following is an op-ed written by University of Illinois Springfield Professor Kent Redfield for the U of I's Institute of Government and Public Affairs:

A former governor was convicted of public corruption a few weeks ago. What many Illinoisans probably found surprising wasn’t the verdict, but the fact that the governor was from Virginia. One wag tweeted, “That’s so Illinois!” When it comes to public corruption, Illinois is the punchline of every joke, even when the corruption is not our own.

Archaeology

6:17 pm

Sun October 5, 2014

An ancient site in present day Calhoun County is the source of intrigue among archaeologists. Despite it's age and long known existence, little is known about the Golden Eagle site, near where the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers meet. It features mounds with an earthen enclosure. Some believe it was a trading center. But questions are plenty.

Jason King is Director of Research for the Center for American Archaeology in Kampsville.

He's researching the site and will speak about that work at the Illinois State Museum's next Science Series lecture Wednesday night.

Health Desk

7:14 am

Tue September 30, 2014

You have a chance to give your thoughts about public health in Sangamon County.

Memorial Medical Center, St. John's Hospital and the Sangamon County Public Health Department are teaming up to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment. Information is being gathered through five local forums starting this week and an online survey.

Lincoln

1:46 pm

Mon September 29, 2014

In a nation devastated by the Civil War, spiritualism offered grieving families some hope of connecting with lost loved ones. It also gave women another outlet for their energy and influence in a society that sharply limited women’s roles.

Jean H. Baker, author of “Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography,” visits the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum on Sept. 30 to discuss spiritualism and attempts to contact the dead.

Business

1:09 pm

Tue September 23, 2014

On this week's WUIS / State Journal-Register Business Report with Tim Landis, we discuss an effort by Magro's Meat Processing of Auburn to locate a store in Springfield. Neighbors have rejected a plan for animal slaughtering in the area along Stevenson Drive. Springfield's Planning and Zoning Board has also denied the request.

Also, mixed reviews so far for bike lanes along a downtown street and a push to bring a medical marijuana dispensary to the city's downtown.

Business

3:58 pm

Thu September 18, 2014

Illinois unemployment fell in August to 6.7 percent, the sixth straight monthly decrease in the state's jobless rate, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The latest figure represents a drop from 9.2 percent one year ago and marks the largest year-over-year decline since 1984. The last time the rate was lower than 6.7 was in July 2008, when it was 6.6 percent.

Regional

6:39 pm

Wed September 17, 2014

A 17 year old was taken into custody this morning after school officials and Chatham police were alerted to a message posted on Twitter.

The teen, whose identity is not being released, was arrested at his home for making an electronic threat and aggravated battery of a police officer. Chatham Sgt. Scott Tarter said an officer was scratched when making the arrest.

Few other details are available as the case remains under investigation. Tarter described the threat as "general" in regards to violence, "but definitely directed at the school."

Mon September 15, 2014

Without some help, Downtown Springfield Incorporated could cease to exist in just over a month. The organization that helps put on events like the downtown farmer's market, blue and bar-b-q and serves as an umbrella group for various businesses is on the ropes financially.

Victoria Ringer, Executive Director, says a 2012 Taste of Downtown event suffered from extreme heat, which kept patrons away. After making up part of that loss, this year's outdoor blues show also lost money because of heat.

Statehouse

5:55 am

Thu September 11, 2014

Everyone remembers where they were 13 years ago today, September 11, 2001.

WUIS' Sean Crawford was preparing for a typical day covering state government and politics at the capitol building. But as word of the terrorist attacks in New York spread, Illinois authorities made the rare decision to close state offices.

The day changed America and how the State of Illinois operated. Security increased in the years after. New focus was put on preparedness efforts.

From our archives, here is Crawford giving an update on 9/11 to Illinois Public Radio's Tom Rogers.

Business

1:15 pm

Tue September 9, 2014

The State Journal-Register's Business Editor Tim Landis explains residents are upset about a plan to open a meat market along Stevenson Drive in the old Eagle Supermarket building. The concern comes from a proposal to allow animal slaughtering on site.

Also, Legacy Pointe was supposed to have had outlet stores and a lot more by now. The delay of development has led to questions about the project ever coming to fruition.

And, Downtown Springfield Inc. could be running out of money as early as next month. What happened and will the city come to the rescue?

Harvest Desk

9:03 am

Tue September 9, 2014

Steve Carlson handles some seeds of Trail of Tears corn. During the forced march in the 1830s from the southeastern U.S. to Oklahoma and Arkansas, Cherokee planted these seeds along the way. (Photo by Sarah Boden / Harvest Public Media)

Most vegetable seeds today are bred by seed companies to be hearty and easier to grow. They’re created by cross-breeding different varieties and selecting for specific characteristics. Heirloom seeds are different. Like your grandmother’s engagement ring, heirloom seeds have been passed down through generations. And today’s gardeners likely wouldn’t have access to For many of their favorite heirloom plants if it weren’t for the work of the Seed Savers Exchange.

12:30 pm

Mon September 8, 2014

The next Illinois State Museum Science Series lecture is this Wednesday night, Sept. 10.

Dr. Jodie O'Gorman has been researching a 700 year old site in Fulton County called Morton Village.

It's where two groups met, lived and apparently fought. While the site is a tranquil setting these days, evidence points to high rate of violent deaths. Understanding how a migrant group called Oneota and local Mississippians got along, and sometimes didn't, is the focus of the work.